A transponder system that integrates redundancy and beam selection
capabilities is disclosed. The transponder system comprises an amplifier
network having a plurality of amplifiers; an antenna network, comprising
a plurality of antennae; an output switching network, including a first
output switching network switch, selectably coupling one of the
amplifiers to one of the plurality of antennae at a first output
switching network switch first switch state and to a second output
switching network switch in a first output switch network switch second
switch state, wherein the second output switching network switch is
selectably coupled to a second one of the plurality of antennae in a
second output switching network switch first switch state and to a third
one of the plurality of antennae in a second output switching network
switch second switch state.